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Climate change has driven up New Yorkers’ property insurance costs by up to $625m per year.
1 June 2026
Main image: a flooded play area in a Scottish playground
A free template to help households across Scotland build their own personalised flood plan is now available − co-created with Scottish communities using behavioural science, as flood risks across the country continue to grow.
Glasgow Caledonian University led the national project, funded by the Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), to develop a practical flood plan template that households across Scotland can complete to create a bespoke action plan for themselves and those they live with. The project was commissioned by the Scottish Government with input from SEPA and the Scottish Flood Forum.
Dr Fiona Henderson, who led the project in collaboration with the University of Glasgow and the James Hutton Institute, noted that while 50% of Scottish Climate Survey respondents expected to experience flooding in the next five years, only 3% have installed flood resilience measures, and public awareness of flood risk remains low − despite flooding becoming more frequent and more severe across Scotland.
‘Flooding is one of Scotland’s biggest climate challenges, but too few people are prepared for its potential impacts. By using insights from behavioural science to create the Scottish Household Flood Plan, we want to help households take small, practical steps that could make a big difference if disaster strikes.’
DR FIONA HENDERSON
Project lead
To develop the plan, the research team engaged with 81 members of the public, including people with disabilities, and professional stakeholders from across Scotland. They also analysed 69 existing UK household emergency plans and reviewed the latest behavioural science evidence on flood preparedness.
Transform Creative, a Scottish social enterprise, developed the plan’s graphics and layout, including producing accessible and easy-read versions.
The research found that simply raising awareness of flood risk without offering clear, achievable actions can reduce confidence rather than build it − so the plan is designed around easy, immediate and implementable steps.
It guides households through practical steps including how to safely switch off power and water, where to store key documents and what to pack if evacuation is necessary.
It is designed to be personalised, since evidence shows locally meaningful messages significantly increase the number of homeowners seeking information and taking action.
A dated review box on the front page encourages households to treat it as a living document, reflecting evidence that even flood-experienced households see their preparedness knowledge fade over time.
Completing the plan also has a broader social benefit. Emergency responders told the research team that households with a plan in place are better equipped to act calmly and independently during a flood, freeing up emergency services to prioritise the most vulnerable.
The project found that large-scale awareness campaigns alone have limited impact. Instead, trusted local voices − community groups, tenants’ associations, third sector organisations and the Scottish Flood Forum − are best placed to encourage uptake. The research recommends forming a dedicated dissemination strategy group drawn from these organisations to coordinate public engagement across Scotland.
The dissemination of the plan should be prioritised for social housing tenants at flood risk, who face significant hidden financial costs if unprepared, and for older people and those with disabilities or long-term health conditions, whose capacity to prepare may be limited or declining. The plan is available in accessible formats.
‘This work brings together research, community voices, and government support in the creation of an inclusive and low-cost preparedness tool − not just to build Scotland’s resilience, but to share lessons internationally on how households can adapt to climate change.’
DR FIONA HENDERSON
Project lead
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